Independent Ireland councillor drops legal bid to stop Bob Vylan Dublin show

Uutspoken band who have been at the centre of controversy following their Glastonbury performance, are set to perform at Vicar Street, Dublin, on November 26

Bob Vylan performing on the West Holts Stage, during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, England.  The performer led crowds on the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of 'death, death to the IDF'.

 An Independent Ireland councillor has dropped a legal challenge aimed at halting a gig by controversial punk-rap duo Bob Vylan in Dublin.

The outspoken UK band have been at the centre of attention in the wake of their Glastonbury performance during last summer, where they led chants of “death, death to the IDF" in reference to the Israel Defence Forces and the war in Gaza.

The pro-Palestine pair are set to perform at Vicar Street, Dublin, on November 26 as part of their We Won't Go Quietly tour.

However, on September 29, Independent Ireland councillor Linda de Courcy told Dublin District Court that there would be an objection to Vicar Street's dance licence. She added that it was due to serious concerns regarding the scheduled performance.

Clondalkin-based de Courcy, who was elected to South Dublin County Council in 2024, informed the licensing court that Ken Flynn TD, of Independent Ireland, had written to the Thomas St venue, but had received no response.

Mr Flynn did not attend or support the court objection.

Ms de Courcy had been told that the objections must be set out in writing within three weeks, after which the venue could respond.

However, when the case resumed today, Dorothy Collins BL, representing Liberty Venues Ltd, the operators of Vicar Street, told Judge Monika Leech that it appeared that the councillor had not attended the proceedings.

Ms Collins also said that she understood the TD was not objecting but rather the councillor who addressed the court on his behalf on the previous date. It also appeared the TD did not instigate the objection himself, counsel said.

Noting that representations had been made, but there were no parties in court to proceed with the objection, the judge said it would be better directed at the venue management. Counsel suggested the gardaí too, as they are well aware of the issues in relation to the upcoming event.

The judge found the objection was not legitimate and granted Vicar Street's dance licence.

Bob Vylan performing at the Glastonbury Festival.

Earlier, the BBC partially upheld complaints regarding the act's contentious Glastonbury performance.

The broadcaster's executive complaints unit (ECU) found that the live stream of the set violated editorial guidelines due to frontman Bobby Vylan's chant about the IDF and his use of pro-Palestine slogans.

The ECU also identified that abusive remarks made toward record company executives were antisemitic. Although the performance was cleared of encouraging crime or breaching impartiality rules, the BBC removed the footage from its on-demand services. These events led to an announcement that it would no longer broadcast "high-risk" concerts. That performance also triggered an investigation by Avon and Somerset Police, with one man in his mid-30s voluntarily attending an interview earlier this month.

The band has also faced other consequences, including having their US visas revoked.

A Bob Vylan gig in the Netherlands was cancelled after frontman Bobby Vylan made comments about the murder of US activist Charlie Kirk in September.